By Dominic Wabwireh with AP Iran temporarily shut the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire drills on Tuesday, a rare show of force that coincided with another round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States in Geneva. The dual developments underscore the high-stakes brinkmanship as Washington rushes military assets to the region. Iranian state media announced forces fired missiles toward the strait, closing the passage through which 20% of the world’s oil flows for several hours. The move marked the first announced closure since the US began threatening Iran. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that “the strongest army in…
Author: Montage Africa
Nomsa Maseko,Springs,Richard KagoeandNatasha Booty A gold rush has gripped an informal settlement east of the South African city of Johannesburg, after reports spread a few days ago about the discovery of some gold particles. AFP/Getty Images Springs, once a booming gold town, saw its mines close several years ago A resident in a poor neighbourhood of the former mining town of Springs claimed to have found several nuggets while digging at an outdoor enclosure used for cattle. Dozens of people have now descended on the area and have been digging up the fenced area where the cows were once penned…
In response to security concerns in Eastern Equatoria, a patrol of 60 uniformed and civilian peacekeepers made the challenging 280-kilometer-long journey by road from South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to Torit. Their four-day mission aimed to assess the situation and engage with affected communities following clashes in Narus in mid-January, which caused casualties and displacement of civilians towards the border with Kenya. Led by the Head of UNMISS’ Juba Field Office, Christopher Murenga, and protected by uniformed peacekeepers from Rwanda, the patrol was more important than ever given the mission had to close its large base in Eastern Equatoria in December…
By Rédaction Africanews Thirty-eight lead miners were killed when gas exploded at a pit in central Nigeria’s Plateau state, local sources told AFP. Twenty-seven others were injured in the blast at the Kampanin Zurak mining site in Plateau state’s Bashar district, the acting traditional ruler told AFP. “So far 38 people are confirmed dead and about 27 others have been rushed to hospital,” said the leader, Alhaji Aliyu Adamu Idris. Ibrahim Dattijo Sani, a miner at a nearby pit, told AFP that the victims were below ground in the mine where the explosion struck between 7:30 and 8:00 am (0630…
Gabon’s media regulator has announced the suspension of social media platforms “until further notice”, saying online content has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions in the country. In a televised statement on Tuesday evening, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) cited the “spread of false information”, “cyberbullying” and the “unauthorised disclosure of personal data” as reasons for the decision. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that by Wednesday afternoon multiple online platforms had been restricted, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp. Gabon is led by Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, who won presidential elections last year after leading a coup in 2023.…
Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body of rugby across Africa, and a member of World Rugby’s Executive Board, praised Kenya for delivering a world-class HSBC SVNS 2 tournament in Nairobi, describing the event as a statement of Africa’s readiness to host global rugby competitions. Held at Nyayo National Stadium, the opening leg of HSBC SVNS 2 attracted over 15,000 fans across the weekend, alongside key dignitaries including Hon. Salim Mvurya, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports. The vibrant atmosphere and seamless organization reinforced Kenya’s reputation as one of Africa’s leading rugby…
By Rédaction Africanews An 18-month-old boy lies motionless on a dirty hospital bed deep in the conflict zone of South Sudan, a bullet wound in his leg — another newly orphaned victim in the world’s newest country. “When they arrived, they started shooting everyone in the area — elder, child, and mother,” Nyayual, his grandmother, told AFP at the hospital in the opposition-held town of Akobo, eastern Jonglei State. The bullet that hit the little boy also killed his mother — Nyayual’s daughter. AFP is using only her first name for fear of reprisals. She says it was government forces…
By Dominic Wabwireh with AP With Ramadan just hours away, shoppers flood the markets of Omdurman, clutching bags of essentials as they prepare for the Muslim holy month. But beneath the surface of commercial activity, the spirit of the season is overshadowed by the brutal realities of a war that has torn the nation apart. For many, the joy of the month is tempered by economic strain. “Prices are too high during peak seasons,” said Saleh Mubarak, a Sudanese displaced from Khartoum. “It is crowded here, and traders take advantage of special occasions to raise prices.” His words reflect the…
Reflecting the spirit of togetherness and generosity during the Holy Month of Ramadan, Emirates (www.Emirates.com) will share thousands of iftar boxes for fasting customers both onboard and at boarding gates, offer complimentary Emirates prayer mats, screen an array of religious content and popular TV shows on ice, and present traditional Ramadan dishes in the lounges. Emirates Iftar boxes at Boarding Gates For the comfort of all fasting customers, complimentary iftar boxes to help break the fast containing water, laban, a banana, and dates are distributed at select Emirates Boarding Gates during iftar time. Emirates Ramadan meal boxes and prayer mats onboard For…
In recent months, the Egyptian authorities renewed their campaign of arbitrarily detaining and unlawfully deporting refugees and asylum seekers solely on the basis of their irregular immigration status in blatant violation of the principle of non-refoulement and Egypt’s own asylum law, Amnesty International said today. Refugees or asylum seekers registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are among those unlawfully deported or arbitrarily detained pending deportation. Since late December 2025, police officers in plain clothes have been arbitrarily rounding up nationals of Syria, Sudan, South Sudan and other Sub-Saharan countries from the streets or their workplaces in cities…